December 2023 at Mountain View High School in Virginia, USA, to help develop the next generation of skilled new farmers through the introduction of hydroponics.
Hydroponics in the United States has been integrated into the family and consumer sciences with the goal of providing young people with unique agricultural experiences related to horticulture, agriculture, nutrition, STEM integration, and leadership development.
Ashlee Painter, science teacher, introduced the hydroponic garden system into the Culinary Arts and Labour course this semester and taught about agriculture.
Painter said, ‘Students are interested in achieving a farm-to-table approach, so this allows me to grow crops within the classroom so that students can fully experience the farm-to-table process.’
Planting and Cooking
Plants grow three times faster in water than in soil, and this garden uses less space and water than traditional growing methods; students observed and practised that the plants originally absorbed nutrients from the water through their roots, and because the plants were grown indoors, there was no need to use pesticides or herbicides.
The hydroponic garden system will be used to grow vegetables and herbs, and students will learn how to handle these plants and use the outputs in culinary experiments for a farm-to-table learning experience.
Incorporating STEM awesomeness
Painter said, ‘The hydroponic garden system is definitely an extension of STEM and STEAM because it utilises science, biology for children to understand how plants grow.’ , and said that next term she will be applying for a grant to bring in larger hydroponic garden equipment to meet the need to expand curriculum knowledge and get students actively involved in the hands-on experience.
In conclusion Painter said, ‘If we can get students to start growing their own results at a younger age, they will be able to use these in their own homes when they are older to create healthier meals.’
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